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Agnes Sorel: A Novel
Agnes Sorel: A Novel

Chapter XXXIII

Cover illustration for Agnes Sorel: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.
The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.
There is nothing so insignificant as a battle.
The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.
This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Agnes Sorel: A Novel

Chapter XXXIII

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.
Line 2
The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.
Line 3
There is nothing so insignificant as a battle.
Line 4
The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.
Line 5
This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.”

All words in this reading · 75

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

account

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

achieved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.

affected

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading There is nothing so insignificant as a battle.

battle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There is nothing so insignificant as a battle.

battles

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

book

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

brief

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

brilliant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

darkness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

days

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

destinies

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

dust

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

events

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.

explained

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

explode

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

fire-works

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

gave

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

greatest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

history

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

hook

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

human

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

insignificant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There is nothing so insignificant as a battle.

invention

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

leave

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

light

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

lightly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

many

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

meant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

named

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

pass

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

permanently

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

probably

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

race

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

sieges

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading There is nothing so insignificant as a battle.

space

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

steam-engine

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.

succeeding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

There

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There is nothing so insignificant as a battle.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

thousand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.

three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

tinder

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

too

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

victories

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading This is no hook of battles and sieges, and, therefore, I will pass over lightly the events of the two succeeding days.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading This is not a book of battles and sieges--those fire-works of history which explode with a brief space of brilliant light, and leave nothing but dust, and tinder, and darkness.

world

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The man who gave an account of the three great battles of the world, and explained that he meant those which had permanently affected the destinies of the human race, probably named three too many.

worth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The invention of the steam-engine was worth a thousand of the greatest victories that ever were achieved.